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VTA Light Rail Retrofit Project Benefits Mobility-Impaired

San Jose, Calif. – The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) announced today passenger service at three light rail stations closed for platform retrofits will return to service Saturday August 9, a month earlier than originally planned. The three stations returning to service are Ohlone/Chynoweth, Oakridge and Almaden.

Level boarding eliminates the need to step up into light rail vehicles and benefits mobility impaired individuals, as well as cyclists, travelers with wheeled luggage and parents with baby strollers. With Saturday’s re-openings, only four stations will still require modifications to boarding platforms before every station in VTA’s 42-mile light rail system offers level boarding.

On Saturday, August 16, Blossom Hill and Cottle stations will close for retrofitting and are scheduled to reopen in approximately six weeks. Work will then begin at the final two stations requiring retrofitting, Snell and Santa Teresa. Snell will close for passenger service, while a temporary platform at Santa Teresa will allow that station to remain open during station modifications. All stations are scheduled to be back in service by Thanksgiving weekend this fall.

When Blossom Hill and Cottle close on August 16, they will be served by substitute “light rail bus bridge” service that provides a free bus ride to nearby open light rail stations.

Customized trip planning services are available by contacting VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300. Also, more information about the Platform Retrofit Project can be obtained by visiting the Service/Construction Notice section of www.vta.org

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About VTA
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) is an independent special district responsible for bus, light rail and paratransit operations; congestion management; specific highway improvement projects; and countywide transportation planning. As such, VTA is both an accessible transit provider and multi-modal transportation planning organization involved with transit, highways and roadways, bikeways and pedestrian facilities.

For more information about VTA services, call VTA Customer Service at (408) 321-2300, (408) 321-2330 (TDD only). Or, log on to www.vta.org.